Wondering what to make for guests to munch on at a Halloween party, or perhaps what to make and send to school with your kids for a class celebration? Get ready for some scary inspiration: Google just rounded up the most searched snacks this time of year. So, here are the most popular Halloween recipes and food ideas for 2024, based on Google searches from around the world right now.
As you peruse this list, you’ll notice that some of the most Googled foods seem obvious. This time of year, people are obviously looking for caramel apple recipes and are quickly checking to see where they can buy candy eyes to go with their desserts. But some items may surprise you. Excuse me, are we eating bat wings now? What exactly are Pizza Skulls and Monster Munch? Maybe you’re feeling nostalgic and craving classic Halloween snacks, or maybe you’re interested in these trendy new dishes. Regardless, it’s easy to see why they’re Googled so much.
Some of these 15 trending foods are ones we’ll all want to enjoy in October, while others, well, just require a little research before you put them on your mental menu (ahem, bat wings).
01mommy hot dog
They’re classics for a reason! Mama Dogs are so great and they are an easy way to keep the kids entertained during mealtime on Halloween. You’ll most likely be using Pillsbury crescent roll dough to make your mummy wraps, so check out their mummy dog recipe for perfect golden crispiness. If you want back-to-back courses on eating the undead, Averie Cooks also has a delicious-looking mummy hand pie recipe that uses a refrigerated pie crust.
02earth cup
Just like the dog mom, the Dirt Cup never disappoints. You can make a big batch in about 30 minutes using Princess Pinky Girl’s recipe, then top it with any of your favorite Halloween candies (although gummy worms are the obvious choice).
03candy apple
Making candy apples is super easy—all you have to do is boil some sugar, corn syrup, water, and food coloring into the bright icing, then dip the apples. Magical things happen when you play with color—like these black “poison” apples—or top them with sprinkles, other candies, or granulated sugar.
04pizza skull
You’ll need a skull cake mold like this one, but once you have it, the pizza skull comes off easily. Simply press the pre-made pizza dough into each pizza dough, then coat with sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings, then seal it with more dough.
05caramel apple
I mean, certainly This time of year, people are Googling how to make this traditional treat. They will keep for two to three weeks in the refrigerator.
06Monster Cookies
If you’ve never had one, monster cookies are basically like kitchen sink cookies. They contain tons of extras—in this case oats, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. Brown Eyed Baker’s recipe also includes a list of ideas for additional add-ons, as well as troubleshooting tips for when cookies are spread too much, not enough, or they crumble.
07monster munch
Puppy food, but for Halloween! There are many ways to make monster chews, some easier than others. Essentially, it should include pretzels, popcorn, and sweet candies. You can coat the pretzels with white and orange chocolate and top them with candy eyes, like in this recipe from Yummly, or leave them naked and toss them in with candy corn and M&Ms.
08bat wings
No, not the real thing. Bat wings are the flat parts of chicken wings that are coated in a dark sauce that makes them look almost black. Budget Bytes’ Raspberry Balsamic Wing Sauce fits the bill, and she has a great recipe for baking them while still getting a crispy result.
09Squid Ink Pasta
Yes, you *need* black squid ink pasta to serve at dinner parties this month. The Love and Olive Oil recipe on Yummly is very detailed and might be worth trying even if you’ve never made pasta at home before.
10candy eyes
Candy eyes are the most essential touch you need this time of year. You just put a couple on anything: little cupcake monsters, cookie monsters, or brownie monsters. They’re also an easy way to make chewing fun for your monster.
11Meringue Ghost
Meringue ghosts are adorable on their own or as toppers for party cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts. If this is your first time making meringue at home, this recipe from Princess Pinky Girl is packed with great tips.
12Witch Lady’s Cookies
Witch Fingers are a classic Halloween cookie, and the Pink Girl Princess recipe creates bright green, spooky cookies that will make your nightmares even scarier. Taste-wise, this is a buttery shortbread cookie – what other dough can hold such wrinkles? —Add a bit of chocolate and tattered almond sliver nails.
13ghost cookies
People searching for “ghost cookies” on Google are probably just wondering where to buy these classic Pillsbury baked cookies (which, honestly, are my favorite). Maybe they are looking for cute ghost sugar cookie ideas and royal icing recipes. Alternatively, these white chocolate soaked nut butters with eyes and mouths would also make a really cute tipple. Regardless, expect to see spooky cookies in many forms this Halloween.
14Skeleton Charcuterie Board
This is one of the easiest Halloween treats to make because there is zero cooking involved. Get a cheap plastic skeleton—not too big or too small—and lay it flat on the parchment paper. Then, strategically place your favorite delicacies around and inside it. Some fall flavors like candied nuts, apples and dark berries would make a nice addition here.
15ghost cake
There are a million and one ways you can interpret this search, as many ways as decorating a cake with a dash of liquor. But this recipe from Wilton is one of the cutest (and according to their website, it’s suitable for beginners). You’ll need quite a few different types of cake pans to complete his shape, but this little ghost looks so Cute to spread in the middle of your party.
Whatever you serve at parties and social events this month, it’s sure to be spooky and delicious.